Major movie studios are belatedly asserting copyright control over images in marketing materials from old films. A legal summary from a Warner Bros. Entertainment studio lawsuit in U.S. federal district court against a nostalgia-products marketer indicates Warners won a $2.57 million copyright infringement award. "In dispute over merchandise with images taken from old … [Read more...] about Warners Wins Dispute Over Old Marketing Materials
controversy
Filmmaker Controversy Sinks ‘Birth’
Fox Searchlight period slave drama “The Birth of a Nation” premiered to weak box office this weekend amid acclaim, high hopes and scandal. The drama, acquired for a sizeable $17.5 million at the Sundance Film Festival, generated just $7 million in domestic box office its premiere weekend Oct 7-9 with a lackluster $2,105 per screen average. “Birth of a Nation” -- about a … [Read more...] about Filmmaker Controversy Sinks ‘Birth’
The Fall of ‘Saint Angelina’ (Jolie)
With the Brangelina "brand" in tatters, the New York Post published an informative dissection of how actress Angelina Jolie constantly reinvents herself and her divorce from Brad Pitt blows up one of her incarnations. “Jolie carved her own niche, controlled her own narrative, and it was impossible to look away,” notes New York Post journalist Maureen Callahan. But with her … [Read more...] about The Fall of ‘Saint Angelina’ (Jolie)
AFI Controversy Exposes Divide About Cinema Studies
A debate about leadership at the famed AFI Conservatory cinema and TV school brings out student comments complaining bitterly about the worth of degrees in film schools and what students should expect -- and not expect. In this post, I’m looking at those tangential issues in the controversy surrounding AFI Film school dean Jan Schuette, who some faculty want fired (AFI is the … [Read more...] about AFI Controversy Exposes Divide About Cinema Studies
Language Worries Parents More Than Cinema Violence
Parents are most concerned with rough language, more than violence, in movie audience classification ratings, according to Classification And Rating Administration. CARA, which is the voluntary film rating service in the United States, issued a 30-page report "Parents Ratings Advisory Study-2015" with that conclusion and other findings. "While 80 percent of parents in the … [Read more...] about Language Worries Parents More Than Cinema Violence
Movie Trailers Increasingly Reveal Spoilers
We're in an era of "tell-all trailers" for movies. An Entertainment Weekly article suggests that movie trailers contain spoilers and reveal too much, citing "Southpaw," "Jurassic World" and "Terminator Genisys." "According to experts in the trailer-making business, the more audiences know, the likelier they are to go," says the ET article by Joe McGovern. The article quotes … [Read more...] about Movie Trailers Increasingly Reveal Spoilers
Director Laments ‘Terminator’ Trailer Tells Too Much
The director of “Terminator: Genisys” feels that the sci-fi movie’s trailers revealed too much, in a rare public airing of common behind-the-scenes tensions over marketing decisions. In an Uproxx Movies story by Mike Ryan, director Alan Taylor laments the trailers contained too many plot spoilers in conveying that “Terminator: Genisys” is an original story, and thus more than … [Read more...] about Director Laments ‘Terminator’ Trailer Tells Too Much
Sponsor’s Nightmare: Star Publicly Trashes Brand
It's every corporate sponsor's nightmare: A Hollywood star tarnishes the brand in a speech at an event underwritten by the sponsor. At the Film Independent Spirit Awards, actor Paul Thomas Anderson ripped American Airlines while accepting an honor from the podium. American Airlines is a Spirit Awards sponsor. "Don't fly American Airlines, man," Anderson said while accepting … [Read more...] about Sponsor’s Nightmare: Star Publicly Trashes Brand
Sony Hack Reveals Confidential Marketing
Major studios are tight-lipped about their marketing, but leaks from the hack of Sony Pictures Entertainment corporate computers provide some insights. For the Tom Hanks drama “Captain Philips,” a PowerPoint slide from Sony Pictures tells staff to stress action to male audiences, emphasize emotional depth to females and steer away from American nationalistic themes, says an … [Read more...] about Sony Hack Reveals Confidential Marketing
Tracking Data Crisis Intensifies
Audience tracking surveys are increasingly failing to predict box office, notes Deadline.com’s Anita Busch, who catalogs a succession of recent wrong calls. For example, tracking surveys predicted roughly $20 million in domestic box office for the three-day premiere weekend for The Weinstein Co.’s young-adult “The Giver,” which ended up with just $12.3 million. That’s a … [Read more...] about Tracking Data Crisis Intensifies